Combination lock



C. PAGANIN l COMBINATION LOCK Jan. 5, 1954 Filed April 9, 1951 wiiiiu.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims priority,application Germany May 25, 1950 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination lock for securing objects ofvarious kinds such as, for example, brief cases, ladies handbags, jacketzippers etc., and the invention has for its object to provide a safetylook of simple construction, the bolt of which can be released only bysetting two or more dials to two or more predetermined letters orfigures.

It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome thedisadvantages of known locks by providing a lock which is distinguishedby its small size, by its great resistance to wear, by its light weightand its effective fastening.

The new look provided by the present invention consists'principally ofan upper part containing the setting mechanism and of a separate lowerkeeper part with the lug. The upper part is formed by the lock casingand by the cover plate and these two parts are riveted together. Freelyrevolving sleeves are arranged on the rivet shanks. Rigidly secured tothe sleeves are the dials with the inscribed letters or figures andanother member having resilient sections, the edges of which are bent upso as to engage the lug in the lower lock part. For securing the keeperthe upper part is placed upon the keeper, as slight pressure is exertedupon the upper part the resilient members with their bent up edgesengage the noses of the lug; thus securing a safe fastening.

At definite dial markings there are no bent up edges on the resilientsection belonging thereto. When the dials are turned until theseparticular markings are directly adjacent each other then the bent upedges do not engage the noses and thus the bolt is released.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of the invention. Onthe drawings:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged top plan view of the combination lock provided bythe invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the lock,showing some of the parts in elevation,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the lower part of the lock, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through the lock,showing some of the parts in elevation.

The combination lock provided by the invention consists of an upper partcontaining setting mechanism 6, f, g, and of a separate lower part orkeeper comprising plate m and lug n. The upper part is formed of acasing a and a cover plate I) and a setting mechanism is ar rangedbetween these two parts. The casing a and the cover plate I) are rigidlysecured to each other by means of rivets c. Arranged to be freelymovable clockwise and counter-clockwise on the rivet shanks c aresleeves d. Rigidly secured to the upper portion of the sleeves d aredials e and bell-shaped members 1 provided with bent up flanges g. Thedials e are inscribed with letters Z or figures which are set to bevisible in the Windows it arranged in the part a, for manipulating thelock. The perimeter of the members 1, and particularly the flanges g aredivided, by means of narrow radial slots 1', for example, into resilientlocking sections which are still connected at the top and correspond tothe number of letters inscribed on the disk e. These slots 2' cause thesections situated between two adjacent slots 2' to be resilient so as tomove inwardly when pressure is exerted upon them (see Fig. 2) and tospring back again whenever there is no pressure. The transverse sides ofthe casing 11 are provided with slots and the knurled edges of the dialse project therethrough permitting the dials e to be turned respectivelyto be set by these projecting edges. A lug n provided with two noses ois rigidly secured on the face plate m. The cover plate b of the upperlock part is provided with a rectangular hole p adapted to receive thelug 12. On connecting the upper part a, b with the lower part m, n, thelug n is put into the hole p. In the center of the hole 1) there is atransverse member s which engages the notch r of the lug n on connectingthe lock parts a, b and m, n.

In order to secure the lug the keeper of the lock is placed upon theupper part, this puts the lug 11. into the hole 10 and the lug n movesthe resilient sections of the members 1 so far inwards until the bent upedges g spring back and engage the noses o of the lug n. Thus the upperand lower lock parts are securely locked together.

The lug of the lock provided by the invention can be released only byturning both dials e until they are in a predetermined position as toeach other. In order to render such releasing by means of dialspossible, some of the bent up edges g between two slots 1' on themembers I have been removed at is, according to the drawing, forexample, on those sections of the members ,f associated with the lettersW and B (see Fig. 1). If the dialse are now so manipulated that theletters W andB appear in the windows h, then the upper part of the lockis released from the lower part, whereas in all other positions oi thedials e the lock cannot be released. Consequently, in the presentinstance the lock can be released only with the combination W and B.Through the above described spacing of letters or figures on the dialse, which serves as an example, provision is made for 64 combinations,but there is only one combination to unlock, that is, the lug is notreleased until after the dials e have been so manipulated as to combine,for example, at least two letters or figures. By changing the positionof the letters or figures another combination can be formed with eachchange.

The new look provided by the invention may also be formed to have morethan two dials -6,

whereby the number of combinations may be J substantially increased.

The new look 'is particularly well adapted as fastening for brief cases,ladies handbags; jackets, zippers and also for luggage, laundry bags,lockup diaries and likewise for vehicles, for example, automobiles,bicycles, etc. If the new lock, for example, is to be used with a-zipper,"then the plate 122 is secured'to the end of the zipper by meansof riveting, sewing or the like. The plate I) of the upper lock partis'provided with extensions q in theform 'of eyes '(Fig. 1). These eyesq are connectedto thezipper slide so that the upper lock part can beused as a zipper pull. Upon closing of 'the :zipper the upper and lowerlock parts are pushed together and are thus locked as :previouslydescribed. In order 'to use the'new lock as afasteningfor .a brief case,the u per lock part is fastenedto the 'flap and the keeper part to thecase itself.

The new look may be made of any suitable material such as metal.

What is claimed is: v

l. A combination.lockcomprisingin combination, a casing having awallformed with at least one opening; .a detachable keeper member includinga lug formed with a recess and projecting into said opening in-saidcasing; at least one setting means mounted in said casing and rotatableto a pluralityof positions, saidsetting means including a radiallyprojecting flange formed with a cut-out corresponding to one ofsaidpositions, and being composed of a plurality of resilient lockingsections corresponding to each of the other of said positions, each ofsaid locking sections consecutively passing said opening during rotationof saidsetting,means projecting into said irecess of said lug and enaging andholdingisaid lug and. thereby locking-said keeper member tosaid casing, said keeper member being free toibe detached only in. theposition of said setting means in which'said cut-out:registers-with saidopening, said resilient sections, when aligned with said opening,permitting insertionpf said lug into said opening by resiliently giving;indicating means secured to said setting means and indicating theposition of the same; and manually operated means connected 'to'saidsetting means for rotating the same.

2. A combination lockcomprising, in combination, a casing having a wallformed with at least one opening; a detachable keeper member locatedadjacent to said wall and including a lug'formed with at leasttwooppositel'y arranged lateral recesses, and projecting into saidopening in said casing substantially normal to said wall; at least twosetting means rota-tably mountedin said casing, one on each side ofsaidopening and having parallel axes of rotation extending normal tosaid wall, each of said setting means being'rotatable independently of'thepther-setting means to a plurality of positions, each setting meansincluding a substantially radially projecting flange formed with acut-out corresponding to one of said positions of the correspondingsetting means, each of said flanges being composed of a plurality ofresilient locking sections corresponding to each of the other of saidpositions and being separated by radial slots, each of said lockingsections consecutively passing said opening during rotation of thecorresponding setting means pro- .jecting into one of said recesses ofsaid lug, and

engaging and holding said lug and thereby locking said keeper member tosaid casing, said keeper member being free to be detached when said twosetting means are in a position thereof in which :the cut-outs of bothsetting means register with said opening, said resili nt sections,whenalign'ed with said opening, permitting insertion of said lug intosaid opening by resiliently giving and sliding on said lug untilsnapping into said recesses therein; two indicating means, eachindicating means indicating the position of one of'said setting means;and two manually operated means, each' manually operated means connectedto one of said setting means for rotating the same.

3. A combination lock comprising, in combination, a casing having a wallformed with at least one opening; a detachable keeper member locatedadjacent/to said wall and including a lug formed Withat least twooppositely arranged lateral recesses, and projecting into said openingin-said casing substantially normal to said wall; at least two settingmeans rotatably mounted in said casing, one on each side of said openingand having parallel axes of rotation extending normal to said wall, eachof said setting means being rotatable independently of the other settingmeans to a plurality "of positions, each setting means including abell-shaped member being formed with a cut-out corresponding to oneofsaid positions of the corresponding setting means, each bell-shapedmember being partly composed'of a plurality of resilient lockingsections corresponding to each of the other of said positions and beingseparated by slots and being bent out and away from said-wall, eachofsaid locking sections consecutively passing said opening during rotationof the corresponding setting means projecting into one-of said recessesof said lug, and engaging and holding said lug and thereby locking saidkeeper member to said casing, said keeper member being'ireeto bedetached when said two setting means are in a position thereof in whichthe cut-outs of both setting means register with said opening, saidresilient sections, when aligned with said opening, permitting insertionof said lug into said opening by resiliently giving and sliding on saidluguntil snapping into said recesses therein; two indicating means, eachindicating means indicating the position of one of said setting means;and two manually operated means, each'manuallyoperated means connectedto one of said setting means for rotating thesame.

4. A combination lock comprising, in combination, a casing open on oneside thereof; a wall formed with at least one opening'and located onsaid-open side-0f said casing; at least two spaced parallel pinsextending normal to said wall, one located on each side of said openingtherein, each "pin being secured at one end to said wall and at theotherend to said casing so as to secure said wall to said casing; adetachable keeper member located adjacent tosaid wall and including alug formed with at least two oppositely-arranged lateral recesses,project- 7 ing into said opening in said casing substantially normal tosaid wall; at least two setting means mounted in said casing, one oneach of said pins and being rotatable thereon, each of said settingmeans being rotatable independently of the other setting means to aplurality of positions, each setting means including a bell-shapedmember being formed with a cut-out corresponding to one of saidpositions of the corresponding setting means, each bell-shaped memberbeing partly composed of a plurality of resilient locking sectionscorresponding to each of the other of said positions and being separatedby slots and being bent out and away from said wall, each of saidlockingv sections consecutively passing said opening during rotation ofthe corresponding setting 1 means projecting into one of said recessesof said lug, and engaging and holding said lug and thereby locking saidkeeper member to said casing, said keeper member being free to bedetached when said two setting means are in a position thereof in whichthe cut-outs of both setting means register with said opening, saidresilient sections, when aligned with said opening, permitting insertionof said lug into said opening by resiliently giving and sliding on saidlug until snapping into said recesses therein; two indicating means,each indicating means indicating the position of one of said settingmeans; and two manually operated means, each manually operated meansconnected to one of said setting means for rotating the same.

5. A combination lock comprising, in combination, a casing having a wallformed with at least one opening; an elongated bridge member secured atthe ends thereof to the inside of said wall, and having a center portionextending across said opening so as to divide said opening into twosymmetrical portions; a detachable keeper member located adjacent tosaid wall and including a lug formed with a notch in the front end facethereof and with at least two oppositely arranged lateral recesses, andprojecting into said opening in said casing substantially normal to saidwall with said bridge member passing transversely through said notch andengaging said lug; at least two setting means rotatably mounted in saidcasing, one on each side of said opening and having parallel axes ofrotation extending normal to said wall ,each of said setting means beingrotatable independently of the other setting means to a plurality ofpositions, each setting means including a substantially radiallyprojecting flange formed with a cut-out corresponding to one of saidpositions of the corresponding setting means, each of said flanges beingcomposed of a plurality of resilient locking sections corresponding toeach of the other of said positions and being separated by radial slots,each of said locking sections consecutively passing said opening duringrotation of the corresponding setting means projecting into one of saidrecesses of said lug, and engaging and holding said lug and therebylocking said keeper member to said casing, said keeper member being freeto be detached when said two setting means are me position thereof inwhich the cut-outs of both setting means register with said opening,said resilient sections, when aligned with said opening, permittinginsertion of said lug into said opening by resiliently giving andsliding on said lug until snapping into said recesses therein; twoindicating means, each indicating means indicating the position of oneof said setting means; and two manually operated means, each manual- 1yoperated means connected to one of said setting means for rotating thesame.

6. A combination lock comprising, in combination, a casing having a wallformed with at least one opening; a detachable keeper member locatedadjacent to said wall and including a lug formed with at least twooppositely arranged lateral recesses, and projecting into said "openingin said casing substantially normal to said wall; at least two settingmeans rotatably mounted in said casing, one on each side on both sidesof said opening and having parallel axes of rotation extending normal tosaid wall, each of said setting means being rotatable independently ofthe other setting means to a plurality of positions, each setting meansincluding a substantially radially projecting flange formed with acut-out corresponding to one of said positions ofthe correspendingsetting means, each of said flanges having a plurality of resilientlocking sections corresponding to each of the other of said positionsand being separated by radial slots, each of said locking sectionsconsecutively passing said opening during rotation of the correspondingsetting means projecting into one of said recesses of said lug, andengaging and holding said lug and thereby locking said keeper member tosaid casing, said keeper member being free to be detached when said twosetting means are in a position thereof in which the cut-outs of bothsetting means register with said opening, said resilient sections, whenaligned with said opening, permitting insertion of said lug into saidopening by resiliently giving and sliding on said lug until snappinginto said recesses therein; two manually operated dial means, each dialmeans secured to one of said setting means and rotating with the same,each of said dial means being provided with a number of indicia, eachindicium corresponding to one position of the corresponding dial means;and fixed indicating means on said casing cooperating with said dialmeans to indicate the position of each of said setting means.

'7. A combination lock according to claim 6 wherein each of said dialmeans is located within said casing, said casing being formed with slotsthrough which said indicating dial means projects to the outside so asto be manually rotated; and wherein said fixed indicating means are theedges of apertures formed in said casing and permitting viewing of oneof said indicia on each of said dial means.

8. A combination lock comprising, in combination, a casing having a wallformed with at least one opening; an elongated bridge member secured atthe ends thereof to the inside of said wall, and having a center portionextending across said opening so as to divide said opening into twosymmetrical portions; a detachable keeper member located adjacent tosaid wall and including a lug formed with a notch in the front end facethereof and with at least two oppositely arranged lateral recesses, andprojecting into said opening in said casing substantially normal to saidwall with said bridge member passing transversely through said notch andengaging said lug; at least two setting means rotatably mounted in saidcasing, one on each side of said opening and having parallel axes ofrotation extending normal to said wall, each of said setting means beingrotatable independently of the other setting means to a plurality ofpositions, each setting means including a bell-shaped member beingformed with a cut-out corresponding to one of said positions of thecorresponding setting means,

eacnbemshaped; member being-partly composed of a pluralityoftresilientviocking seetions correspending to..:each :of "the other ofsaid positions and being separated bynslots and being bent out and away.from'said wall, each of said locking sections consecutively passingsaid opening duringrrotation of the corresponding setting meansprojecting into one of said recesses of said lug, and engagingandholding said lug and thereby locking said keeper-member tosaidcasing, said keeper :membertbemg free to be detached when saidtwo-setting meansarein a position thereof in whichthe'cut-Oiits of bothsetting means register with said opening, said resilient sections,

when aligned with said opening, permitting in- 15 sertionof said lugintossaid opening by resiliently giving and sliding on said lugvuntilsnapping-into said recesses therein :twomanu'ally operated dial 8 means,eaeh 'dial means secured to one 'of said setting means and rotating withthe same, each of-sa'id-dial means being provided with a number ofindicia, each indicium corresponding to one positieniof the-corresponding dial means; and fixed indicating'means onsaidcasingcooperating with said dial means 'to indicate the position ofeach-'ofisaid setting means.

CARL PAGANINI.

References :Cited in the :Zfile .of 'ithifi zpatent UNITED STATESPATENTS Number .Name Date 1,048,529 Hanson .Dec.-31, 1912 194L177Kimball i Dec. 26,1933 007,663 Rapp t.,i July 9, 1935 [2,032,019.'Jordan.c Feb. 25, 1936 2307362 Winter'feld E V .Sept. 10, 1946

